Access to healthcare for people with sickle cell disease: Views of healthcare professionals on policies and practices.

Introduction: Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder with its highest prevalence in Nigeria. The condition causes red blood cells to turn rigid, and consequently, results to several complications including organ damage. This study aimed at assessing views of health practitioners in Nigeria on policies and practices in the area of access to healthcare services for sickle cell disease.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken amongst healthcare professionals in Nigeria. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, and analyses were undertaken using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software.

Results: A significant proportion of the participants (42.8%) disagreed that relevant legislative framework exists to facilitate optimal access to high-quality healthcare services for persons with sickle cell disorder in Nigeria. Two-thirds of the study cohort were of the opinion that public health surveillance towards sickle cell disease was suboptimal (61.2%). Also, more than three-quarters of the respondents (78.7%) indicated that the cost of managing sickle cell disease was not affordable to majority of affected Nigerians.

Conclusion: This study provides critical insights into access to healthcare services for sickle cell disease. As such, challenges preventing access to healthcare services for sickle cell patients which have been identified in this study can underpin the development of contextual policies to address them.